Two-way ear syringe



March 31, 1959 R. A. ANDERSON TWO-WAY EAR SYRINGE Filed March 13, 1956 J7zz/e 21 0%Maersanz United States Patent 2,879,768 TWO-WAY EAR SYRINGE Roy Algot Anderson, Chicago, 1]]. Application March 13, 1956, Serial No. 571,288 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-248) The invention relates generally to syringe nozzles and the like, and more particularly to an ear speculum.

The invention has amongits objects the production of an ear speculum which is very simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is the production of such an ear speculum which may be readily inserted into and removed from the ear channel, and is so designed that penetration into the ear channel is limited, eliminating any possibility of damage to the ear.

A further object of the invention is the production of such an ear speculum which may be readily produced as a single member which may be readily attached to the usual rubber ear syringe or the like, and which although small enough to be readily inserted in the ear channel, is provided with a relatively large discharge passage insuring adequate discharge of inserted liquid from the ear without painful pressure or damage to the car.

A further object of the invention is the production of such an ear speculum which is sanitary in construction and may be easily cleaned and sterilized.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an ear speculum constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating the same as being mounted on a rubber syringe;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the ear speculum illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottomview of the speculum illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally an ear speculum constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a rubber ear syringe 2 of common type. The body member 1 may be constructed of suitable material such as metal which may be readily sterilized and maintained in a sanitary condition. Extending through the body member -1 is. a fluid conducting bore 3 which extends through a cylindrical stem or shank 4 adapted to be inserted into the bore 5 of the syringe 2. If desired, the stem 4 may be provided with a corrugated or irregular external surface 6 adapted to provide frictional engagement with the mally will be inserted until the shoulders Z syringe 2. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the body portion adjacent the stem 4 may be generally cylindrical in cross sectional shape, having a flattened face 7. The free end portion of the device indicated generally by the numeral 8 is of smaller cross section than the body portion adjacent the stem mediate the ends of the body portion, the latter tapering toward the free end of the device as indicated at 11.

The body portion 1 may be provided adjacent the fiat face 7 with a depending portion 12 having a bore 13 therein opening on the front end face 14 of the speculum adjacent the bore 3, and forming a discharge outlet 15 adjacent the fiat face 7, with the bore 13 being larger in diameter than the bore 3 to insure adequate drainage of liquid discharged into the ear by the bore 3, and eliminate any possibility of pressure build-up in the ear channel.

In use the syringe '2 may be filled up with water or other, liquid to be inserted into the ear channel, following which the'speculum is inserted into the ear chanhel, thetapered shape of the speculum permitting easy insertion without pain or discomfort. The speculum nor- 9 engage the ear, insuring sufficient penetration of the speculum and at the same time preventing the possibility of excessive penetration. Likewise, as the speculum is .of generally tapering shape from the syringe end to the free end, the speculum will readily spread the adjacent portions surrounding the ear channel to permit free insertion, even though the ear channel may be relatively small. Following insertion of the speculum, the syringe 2 may then be gently squeezed to discharge water or other liquid therein from the mouth of the bore 3 into the ear channel, from which it will flow through the bore 13 and be discharged from the ear, the bore 13 being so related with respect to the shoulders 9 that the mouth 15 of the bore is exteriorly positioned with respect to the ear channel, permitting liquid to flow exteriorly therefrom. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while there have been devices designed to permit discharge of liquid into a body orifice and permit the flow therefrom, some of which devices have embodied concentric arrangements of inlet and discharge openings, such type of construction due to the small size of the ear channel would be wholly impractical and ditficult to manufacture.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the invention which is generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5, the construction of Figs. 6 and 7, however, being designed for use with syringes which are not attached to the speculum. In this construction the body member 1 is provided with an enlarged recess 16, opening on the end 17 of the member, the recess being more or less concentrically arranged with respect to the bore 3. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the end 17 is adapted to be associated with the syringe or equivalent device, recess 16 being of a size to receive the end of such a syringe, with the inner end of the recess communicating with the adjacent end of the bore 3, whereby upon insertion of a syringe tip in the recess 16, fluid may be discharged from the syringe through the bore 3. Also in this modification the free end 14' of the device adapted to be inserted into the ear channel is illustrated as being more or less uniformly tapered from the large end 18 of the body portion, whereby the speculum is of more or less uniform shape. The speculum is, however, provided with the depending portion 12' corresponding to the portion 12 and having the larger bore 13' therein.

In use the speculum illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 would be inserted into the ear channel in a manner somewhat similar to that previously described, the additional length of the speculum of Figs. 6 and 7, permitting ready man- 4 and forms shoulders 9 interual insertion of the speculum into the ear channel, following which the tip of the syringe is inserted into the recess 16 and liquid discharged into the ear channel and out through the bore 1 3. To facilitate the flow of li u from t r n e into the here 3 a e m na e any possibility of leakage around the tip of the syringe, the inner portion of the recess 16 may he tapered as indicated at 19. v I

It will be noted from. the above description that I have provided an ear speculum which is exceedingly simple in construction and so designed that it maybe readily inserted into the ear channel without danger of injury to the ear or pain. It will also be noted that the construction of the device is such that liquid discharged into the .ear is provided with an adequate outlet therefrom to avoid any possibility of building up pndesired pressure within the ear channel and which might otherwise cause injury to the ear. I

In the b nt of t e in ent on il u t ate i Figs. 1 and 2, the speculum may be easily and readily manipulated by means of the syringe to which it is attached, whereby the operation is completely under the control of the person performing the same enabling the ready insertion or removal from the ear.

While the shape of myspeculum is such that a single sized speculum may be used in ear channels of varying sizes, the device may be readily manufactured in several sizes whereby it may be used in substantially any size ear channel.

Likewise, while I have illustrated the speculum as being formed from a material such as metal, plastic or other suitable material cast, molded or otherwise formed to the desired shape, other materials may be employed, as for example suitably formed sheet metal, plastic, etc., and if desired, the proportionate sizes of the passageway may be varied to meet particular applications.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications maybe made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ear speculum, the combination of a body member of a material-which will withstand sterilization, said body member having ,a relatively small bore therein and being constructed adjacent an end of said bore for association and operative connection with means for supplying a liquid to said bore, the opposite end of the body member being of a shape and a size to enter an ear canal, said body member having a second bore therein extending in the same direction as said first bore and opening on the corresponding end of the body member, said openings lying substantially in a common plane, the opposite end of said second bore opening on the exterior of the body member with the latter increasing in crosssection from the discharge end of said first bore to form an enlarged portion spaced from the ear-insertable end thereof of a size to limit insertion of the body member into the ear canal, said second bore being larger in diameter than the first bore and forming an outlet for fluid discharged into such an ear channel through said first bore.

2. In an ear speculum, the combination of a generally cylindrical body member of a material which will withstand sterilization, said body member having a relatively small bore therein and being provided adjacent an end of said bore with a stem adapted to be engaged with a syringe nozzle for attachment thereto for supplying a liquid to said bore, said end portion having a relatively fiat face, the opposite end of the body member being of a shape and a size to enter an ear canal, said body memher having a second bore therein extending generally parallel to'said first bore and opening on the corresponding end of the body member, said last mentioned openings lying substantially in a common plane, the opposite end of said last mentioned bore opening on the exterior of the body member at said fiat face with the body member generally flaring rearwardly from the discharge end thereof to form an enlarged portion, spaced from the ear-insertable end thereof, of a size to limit insertion of the body member into the ear canal, said second bore being larger in diameter than the first bore and forming an outlet for fluid discharged into such an ear channel through said first bore.

3. In an ear speculum, the combination of a body member of amaterial which will withstand sterilization, said body member having a relatively small bore therein and being provided with a recess therein adjacent an end of said bore for receiving the nozzle of a syringe for supplying a liquid to said bore, the inner end of said recess being tapered, the body member tapering toward the opposite end thereof and of a size to enter an ear canal, said body member having a second bore therein extending in the same direction as said first bore and opening on the corresponding end ofthebody member, said openings lying substantially in a common plane, said second bore opening on the exterior of the body member, the latter flaring rearward from the discharge end thereof to form an intermediate portion of a size to limit insertion of the body member into the ear canal, said second bore being larger in diameter than the first bore and forming an outlet for fluid discharged into such an ear channel through said first bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,839

Fowler Apr. 18, 1911 FOREIGN PATENTS 16 ,473 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1892 615,249 'France Apr. 28, 1926 

